Need Passport Expedite Service? Don't Apply Until You Get Answers to These Five Questions!

It's no secret that preparing to travel abroad can be a stressful experience. After long hours of research about destinations and transportation, you still have to worry about entry requirements and travel warnings. And don't forget about all the packing. It sure can feel overwhelming!

Just when you think you have everything in order, you face every international traveler's worst nightmare: an invalid passport.

It might be the expiration date passed by unnoticed.

Or you are told that your passport is too damaged to be acceptable.

Maybe you don't have enough visa pages in your passport.

Or the country you're traveling to requires six months' validity and you only have two.

Worse, you might not have a passport at all. And without one, your trip - whether for business, pleasure, or an emergency - is not going to happen.

It is not uncommon for would-be travelers to make this discovery only a few weeks or, even, days before their departure date. Many only discovered the problem after arriving at the airport. This creates an extremely hectic and stressful situation. When this happens, all you want to know is...

How can you get a passport in a hurry?

You can apply for expedited processing for a name change or a passport renewal by mail if you meet all the criteria. But you must apply in person for a new passport. This can be done at many post offices or at your local clerk of court office. Sometimes, even public libraries accept applications.

The majority of these locations require an appointment. The problem is that telephones often go unanswered and, when someone does answer, the only slot available is weeks after you need it. On top of that, expedited processing can take up to 3 weeks when you apply at an accpetance facility or mail your renewal application - precious time that you simply don't have.

The fastest way to get a passport when you're crunched for time is to apply at a regional processing center.

There are 25 regional agencies across the United States that issue regular, tourist passports. Another is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A Special Issuence Agency in Washington, DC issues diplomatic, official, and no-fee passports. Agency locations include:

Atlanta, GA

Aurora, CO

Boston, MA

Buffalo, NY

Chicago, IL

Dallas, TX

Detroit, MI

El Paso, TX

Honolulu, HI

Hot Springs, AR

Houston, TX

Los Angeles, CA

Miami, FL

Minneapolis, MN

New Orleans, LA

New York, NY

Philadelphia, PA

Portsmouth, NH

San Diego, CA

San Francisco, CA

San Juan, PR

Seattle, WA

Stamford, CT

St. Albans, VT

Tucson, AZ

Washington, DC

The regional centers typically do not accept walk-ins (we'll come back to this topic). You must call ahead to make an appointment through the National Passport Information Center.

Submitting your application at a regional processing center is your only chance of getting a passport in less than two weeks. Depending on your situation and how busy the center is, you could potentially have your passport the next day, or even the same day. At most, the process is completed within 8 business days.

Certainly, you can submit your application on your own. This requires you know exactly what forms to fill out, what documents you need to provide, and what fees you need to pay. One mistake can delay the entire process.

And what if you don't have the time to visit a regional center?

What if you can't take off work?

What if you are too far to make the trip yourself?

That's where a registered courier service can help. But this raises a big concern:

Is it safe to have someone else handle my passport application for me?

It's only natural to be wary. This is an important document - one that can make or break your entire trip! The weight of this decision can be quite stressful. Trying to decide the fastest way to get your passport can result in a lot of frustation.

We understand. U.S. Passport Service Guide has helped thousand of American citizens through the expedited passport process. They reached out to us because they all faced a similar situation.